Burkardt goal only enough for a point

1. FSV Mainz 05 were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin in the rearranged game from matchday 18. Jonny Burkardt gave the 05ers a deserved lead in first-half injury time, but the visitors struck back immediately. Mainz were denied a clear penalty prior to this after Ludovic Ajorque was clearly fouled in Union’s penalty area in the opening stages. Karim Onisiwo failed to take the 05ers’ best opportunity in the second half when missed the target from close range after 70 minutes.

Jan Siewert made three changes from the defeat against Werder Bremen. Danny da Costa replaced captain Silvan Widmer in the starting eleven, whilst Edimilson Fernandes came into the side in place of Phillipp Mwene. Meanwhile, Jan Siewert placed his trust in Ludovic Ajorque up front, with new signing Jessic Ngankam dropping to the bench.

An open start to the game

On a sodden pitch, FSV had the first half chance of the game when Sepp van den Berg’s header from Nadiem Amiri’s  cross from a free-kick went just over the bar (2’). The visitors then went close at the other end of the pitch shortly afterwards: Benedict Hollerbach tried his luck from the edge of the box, but Robin Zentner was able to make the save (4’). The pace of the game was relentless in the opening minutes as both teams threatened to strike early. Kevin Volland hit the crossbar with a flick from a cross from the right-hand side just three minutes later (7’). The game continued at a crazy pace as the ball found its way to Jonny Burkardt via the lively Amiri, but his deflected shot missed the target. Mainz came even closer to finding the opening goal from the subsequent corner: It was once again van den Berg who got his head on the ball and forced Rønnow into his first stunning save, before Leo Barreiro’s follow-up effort was too central, allowing the Danish goalkeeper to make another crucial save (9’). Another corner came was the result, with Ajorque ending up the ground covered in blood following an individual duel in the six-yard area. Robin Knoche made contact with the Frenchman’s head, and whilst the attacker was able to continue after a short break for treatment, the referee didn’t award a penalty. This relegation six-pointer continued provide plenty of entertainment, even though there were fewer clear-cut chances in the following stages. Amiri tried his luck from a central free-kick from around 20 yards out in the 20th minute, but his effort landed on the roof of the net. Union had the next couple of chances, but Volland and Hollerbach were unable to make the most of these opportunities. FSV had eleven shots to the visitors’ ten in an action-packed opening half an hour, but the game still remained goalless.

40 minutes in, lots of tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch from the away end, which led to a stoppage of more than ten minutes and a lengthy period of additional time. This was not good for the flow of the game as things became somewhat scrappier. FSV needed another set piece to finally be able to celebrate taking the lead in a game again. Amiri had managed to win a corner after an energetic burst forward, and delivered it to the near post himself. Jonny Burkardt was there and headed in his first goal for more than a year to make it 1-0 (45+8’). This lead did not last long though as the visitors equalised in the final seconds of injury time. Jannik Haberer crossed towards the far post from the right-hand side, where Gosens broke free and left Zentner with no chance from a tight angle (45+13’). We thus went in level at the break.

A host of chances but no goals

Widmer replaced da Costa at half time, while there were no changes for Union. The first opportunity of note fell to the 05ers once again. Ajorque put in a perfect cross from the right which the recently introduced captain met with his head, forcing Rønnow into another superb save (52’). FSV started the second half well. Two minutes later, Amiri tested Rønnow again with a free kick from about 20 yards out, but the Dane was equal to it (54’) and also to Burkardt’s effort shortly afterwards (57’). In a game that remained intense, but now lacked chances, Siewert brought on Dominik Kohr for the exhausted Amiri. A few minutes later, FSV were gifted a golden chance to take the lead once more. After a miscued clearance from Aissa Laidouni, the ball landed on the head of Onisiwo, who was completely free in the box, but he put it just wide of the post from about five yards out (73’). The 05ers wanted and needed three points. Siewert brought on Ngankam for Onisiwo as we approached the final ten minutes. As the pitch got increasingly sodden, it became almost impossible to attack with any sort of precision, and chances were hard to come by. Union substitute Yorbe Vertessen forced Zentner into a crucial save out of nowhere in the 88th minute, but couldn’t get the better of the 05ers’ goalkeeper. That remained the final opportunity of a match that started breathlessly, but quietened down after half time, which was partially due to the adverse weather conditions.

After a ninth draw of the season, FSV have 12 points on the board ahead of their visit to VfB Stuttgart on Sunday (15:30 CET). On Saturday, 17th February (15:30 CET), FC Augsburg visit the MEWA ARENA.

MAINZ 05 1-1 UNION BERLIN

FSV: Zentner - da Costa (46’ Widmer), van den Berg, Fernandes, Caci - Barreiro, Krauß (90’ Hanche-Olsen), Amiri (70’ Kohr) - Burkardt, Ajorque (90’ Gruda), Onisiwo (80’ Ngankam)
Union: Rönnow - Gosens (82’ Roussillon), Knoche, Vogt (63’ Diogo Leite), Doekhi, Schäfer (77’ Kral) - Khedira, Haberer, Laidouni - Hollerbach (63’ Vertessen), Volland (82’ Aaronson)

Goals: 1-0 Burkardt (45+8’), 1:1 Gosens (45+13’)

Attendance: 26,200
Officials: Martin Petersen (Alexander Sather, Rafael Foltyn, Patrick Schwengers, Pascal Müller)